Yukine's P.O.V.:

"So you're sure? (Y/n) hasn't been here at all?" I asked wryly.

Mayu shook her head somberly. "Believe me, I'd do anything to help out a regalia of Yato's, but she hasn't been around since the last time you all visited."

I sighed, kicking the gravel on the ground in irritation.

"Oh okay.. well thanks anyways."

"If you need any help from Tenjin and the rest of us, just let us know. We all care about (Y/n) just as much as you and Yato do." Mayu offered with a small sympathetic smile.

I nodded, turning back to Daikoku's car, in which Hiyori, himself, Yato, and Kofuku were patiently waiting.

I opened the door only to be bombarded by countless questions about (Y/n)'s whereabouts.

"Did you find her?!"

"Is she there?!"

"Is she okay?"

I shook my head 'No,' in disappointment.

Everyone's face fell, except for Yato's. He looked more heated than upset.

"Well she has to be somewhere. We're not gonna stop looking until we find her." He stated sturdily, his eyes glowering into the world outside of the window.

"Well if she isn't at Tenjin's and Bishamon hasn't seen her, then what other place is there for us to look? (Y/n) could be anywhere." Daikoku announced, his hands tensely gripping the wheel.

"She isn't at the river.. we've checked there already. Maybe.. she's near her Suzuha's memorial?" Hiyori suggested, tapping her fingernails lightly upon the arm of her seat.

My eyes lit up in hope. Maybe she just went to visit Suzuha..maybe she's fine after all!

"Yato... can you get any sort of read on her? Anything that might show that she's there? Or maybe even by her parent's house?" I questioned him frantically.

This may have been our best chance at finding (Y/n), and we need to utilize it to our advantage.

"I wish I could, but I can't. Like I said, with her being a Nora now, her connection to my own mind is like trying to hear with cotton in your ears." Yato restated blandly, leaning his head on his elbow.

"I think... I think we should go to Suzuha's memorial first. Maybe she just wanted to visit him on her own.. just to have a little time to herself!" Kofuku said enthusiastically, practically bouncing out of her seat much to Daikoku's dismay.

"Well.. it's not like she's going to turn up here. We might as well start heading there," Yato muttered, his eyes pushing Daikoku to begin driving.

With that, and a bit of persistent bickering between Yato and Daikoku because of Yato's attitude, the five of us were off.
********************************

The day was gloomy, and Spring had not bothered to show its presence. There was a chilled breeze, and the usual vibrancy of Suzuha's beloved sakura tree had faded. The pink petals had become a mere salmon, and the bark looked as insipid as dirt.

I stood in the middle of the field, the absence of both (Y/n) and Suzuha slowlycreeping upon me.

"She should be here.." I whispered, not taking my eyes off of the tree. The bouquet of flowers we'd left from last weekend leaned weakly upon the tree. They had wilted, the petals crumbling in the grass.

"..She has to be here.." I gritted my teeth, my fists curling in anger.

My eyes shut, tears running and cheeks burning.

"It just doesn't make sense. I promised to always be by her side, and she should always be by mine..!" My tone rose, almost alerting Yato and Hiyori who were looking not too far behind me.

After all, you'd made promises together. You were going to spend the rest of your lives as regalias together. For you to just up and leave made it seem like none of that mattered.

"Yukine.. I am always by your side."

My eyes opened at the very sound that I would never forget.

It sounded like you. It sounded like that light voice that I'd always cherished, the one I could never get enough of.

That's because it was you. I didn't even bother questioning it.

Her eyes were yours. That unique (e/c) painted on your irises was there.

Her hair was yours. Delicately framing your face, and softly brushing your ears in the breeze.

Even her skin was yours, though a bit paler than its usual (s/c).

It had been failed to notice that brushes of violet blight were littered upon you skin and ghostly white tendrils twirled and swiveled around your torso.

Shadows even covered the silhouette of your figure, and to anyone else, you'd look like a monster.

Though I didn't see that. I saw you.

" I never wanted to leave you, Yukine. I was forced to.. And I never meant to hurt you. I'm a monster inside and out.. I don't-"

I cut her off, pulling her body into my arms and sobbing into her shoulder.

The blight spread from her body to mine, beginning to sting my skin. I pushed through the pain, puling her even tighter into my embrace.

I know how it feels now. To lose someone you love, and not being able to do anything about it.

"I don't care what you look like or what you are (Y/n)... I'm always gonna love you regardless. I love your eyes, I love your soul, I love you." I cried, soaking the shoulder of her t-shirt.

You remained silent, your arms remaining by your sides. The pure white tendrils with drawled within your center, the blight faded away, and the shadows had morphed into light.

"You are the last person I have left, (Y/n). No matter what happens, I promise to never let you go. So please.. don't ever leave me again."

Your eyebrows creased, your fists balling up.

"I am a monster, Yukine. I killed Medusa. I blight Yato. I hurt you.. by insinuating this stupid 'find our pasts' plan, I almost got us all killed. All I do is hurt people ! I.. I don't deserve a second chance. I don't deserve a master like Yato, I don't deserve friends like Mayu, Kofuku, or Daikoku... and I sure as hell don't deserve you. Who really deserves my place is Suzuha... he deserves to live much more than I do."

"Shut up, (Y/n). Just shut up. Suzuha wants the both of us to live for him. You're here because Yato needs you. Because I need you. You help people. You helped Suzuha. You deserve a second chance to live, and that's why you're here. Who cares that you killed Medusa? She tried to kill all of us. She tried to ruin our lives, so she deserved it. So stop saying things like that... we're here to be happy.. and I can't be happy without you." I looked up into (Y/n)'s watery eyes, her lips pursed.

Suddenly, Yato and Hiyori had taken notice of your presence, not wasting any time in approaching you.

"(Y/n)!!" The two of them called, Hiyori's magenta eyes lighting up and Yato's cold demeanor turning back into his usual goofy one.

With you back, everyone had changed. You were a piece of the puzzle, and without finishing it, no one would be satisfied.

The two tackled (Y/n), catching her by surprise.

"Don't you dare leave again! I can't get left alone with these two! Are you crazy?!" Hiyori boasted, enveloping (Y/n) in her arms.

"Hey! We were supposed to the market yesterday. I think you owe me, (Y/n)." Yato joked, ruffling her hair.

(Y/n) sniffled, shutting her eyes and collapsing into Hiyori's shoulder with a loud sob. The two carefully consoled her, as I joined them, the three of us mashing her into a group hug.

I smiled, brushing away a stray tear from my face.

"Welcome home, (Y/n)."

OML I have a knack for making sad chapters. I wonder why that is..?! Btw I'm not dead I was just busy and I know you guys have been waiting for this chapter for nearly a month. I promise I will not get this backtracked in updates again. Good news, though! My swim season just ended yesterday, meaning I have a lot more free-time now and that means more updates! (So 'know.. you guys don't kill me lol.) I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I miss reading your comments so comment lots of them lol. Love you all and try not to kill me for being so late- Drama Typhoon <3